Ortiz Law Firm is dedicated to helping people recover the disability benefits they deserve. We handle group Long Term Disability (LTD) claims, individual disability insurance policy claims, ERISA disability claims, and Social Security Disability claims.

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Standard

Here is a collection of all our content relating to Standard.

Standard Insurance Company Violates Dentist’s Right To A Full And Fair Review

The “Zall v. Standard Insurance Company” case involves a long-term disability claim filed by Eric S. Zall, a dentist and co-owner of a dental practice, under an insurance policy with Standard Insurance Company. Zall filed this claim in 2013, at the age of 48, because of chronic neck pain and right-handed numbness and weakness resulting …

Standard Insurance Company Violates Dentist’s Right To A Full And Fair ReviewRead More

The Standard Wrongly Applies Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion To Claim

Recently, we appealed a claim denial issued by The Standard. The claim had been denied because the insurance carrier had determined that the claimant’s condition was caused or contributed to by a pre-existing condition. This is not an unusual basis for a long term disability claim denial. However, upon further review, we determined this pre-existing …

The Standard Wrongly Applies Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion To ClaimRead More

Foss v. Standard – “Own Occ” Is With Any Employer, Not With Specific Employer

I’ve been away from case summaries for a bit. Going to turn that around with a recent decision in Foss v. Standard Insurance Company, Case No. 20-cv-2449, decided by the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota on August 19, 2022. Unfortunately, the Court ruled in favor of the insurance company. Plaintiff Caroline …

Foss v. Standard – “Own Occ” Is With Any Employer, Not With Specific EmployerRead More

Donlick v. Standard – Standard Did Not Act In An Arbitrary And Capricious Manner

Marybeth M. Donlick (“Donlick”) was employed as a truck driver for Chesapeake Energy Corporation (“Chesapeake”). Through her employment, Donlick received coverage for a long term disability benefits plan, which was administered by Standard Insurance Company (“Standard”). On August 7, 2012, Donlick was in a motorcycle crash which caused her to have an amputation below her …

Donlick v. Standard – Standard Did Not Act In An Arbitrary And Capricious MannerRead More

Williams v. Standard – Court Upholds Plan Administrator’s Decision

Defendant advances two grounds for terminating the plaintiff’s long-term disability benefits. First, the defendant contends the plaintiff does not qualify for an exception to the “Other Limited Conditions” provision under the Plan because he does not have a herniated disc with documented neurological abnormalities. Second, the defendant claims the plaintiff is not disabled from all occupations and thus does not qualify for benefits during his policy’s “Any Occupation” period. If established, either of these grounds would provide a recognized justification for the termination of the plaintiff’s benefits under the terms of the Plan.

Williams v. Standard – Court Upholds Plan Administrator’s DecisionRead More

Slaton v. Standard – Claimant’s Failure To Report Symptoms Led To Claim Denial

The Court concluded that Defendant did not act in an arbitrary and capricious manner in denying Plaintiff’s claim for long-term disability benefits. Accordingly, the Court overruled Plaintiff’s Motion for Judgment on the Administrative Record, and sustained Defendant’s Motion for Entry of Judgment on the Administrative Record.

Slaton v. Standard – Claimant’s Failure To Report Symptoms Led To Claim DenialRead More

Puccio v. Standard – Plaintiff Entitled To Description Of Material Needed To Perfect Claim

There is no dispute that Puccio is disabled. She has multiple medical conditions that limit her ability to work. The only dispute is whether her disabilities are covered by the LTD policy or whether she has exhausted the maximum benefits allowed under the policy for her particular conditions.

Puccio v. Standard – Plaintiff Entitled To Description Of Material Needed To Perfect ClaimRead More

Doe v. Standard – Insurer’s Decision Was Based On The Wrong Occupation

The court agreed with Doe that Standard’s reliance on the DOT description of a generic “lawyer,” rather than a job description that fully and accurately encompassed the material duties of Doe’s specialized area of legal practice, rendered Standard’s decision arbitrary and capricious.

Doe v. Standard – Insurer’s Decision Was Based On The Wrong OccupationRead More

Cheney v. Standard – Court Rules Claimant Meets The Definition Of Disability

Case Name: Carole Cheney v. Standard Insurance Company Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Date of Decision: August 28, 2014 Type of Claim: Long-Term Disability under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) Insurance Company: Standard Insurance Company Claimant’s Employer: Kirkland & Ellis Claimant’s Occupation / Job Position: The plaintiff was a long-time attorney at Kirkland & Ellis …

Cheney v. Standard – Court Rules Claimant Meets The Definition Of DisabilityRead More

Cheney v. Standard – Court Of Appeals Reverses Favorable District Court Decision

This is an update to the previous district court decision in Cheney v. Standard. Here, the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed the lower court decision in favor of the Plaintiff and rules in favor of the insurance company. Case Name: Cheney v. Standard Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Date of Decision: July 27, …

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